Project Architect

Project Architect

Location: Chicago, IL | Hybrid

About the Role

Perkins&Will is seeking a Project Architect to join our Chicago studio. In this role, you'll help bring thoughtful, innovative design solutions to life by leading the technical development, coordination, and delivery of architectural projects. You'll work closely with multidisciplinary teams, consultants, and clients to ensure that design intent is carried through every phase of the project.

As a Project Architect, you'll balance design excellence with technical expertise, quality assurance, and project execution. You'll play a key role in navigating complex project requirements, supporting team collaboration, mentoring colleagues, and advancing our commitment to Living Design.

What You'll Do

• Lead the technical development and coordination of architectural projects, translating design concepts into coordinated, accurate, and constructible documentation.

• Oversee the preparation of drawings, specifications, and other project deliverables throughout all phases of design and construction.

• Manage project quality assurance and review documentation for compliance with design intent, contractual requirements, firm standards, and applicable regulations.

• Coordinate across teams of architects, interior designers, landscape architects, engineers, and external consultants to support integrated project delivery.

• Lead regulatory reviews and coordinate submissions related to building codes, accessibility, zoning, and other jurisdictional requirements.

• Guide construction contract administration, including submittal reviews, requests for information, field observations, reporting, and project closeout.

• Communicate with clients on technical project matters and collaborate with project leadership to align technical decisions with design objectives, schedules, and financial goals.

• Participate in design reviews, charrettes, marketing pursuits, proposals, and interviews while mentoring team members and encouraging collaboration.

• Stay informed about evolving building technologies, construction systems, materials, and sustainable design practices that support high-performing projects.

What You'll Bring

Required Qualifications

• A bachelor's degree in architecture or a related discipline.

• An active professional architectural license.

• Strong knowledge of building codes, accessibility requirements, construction methods, building systems, specifications, and construction contract administration.

• Advanced proficiency in Revit, along with experience coordinating architectural documentation and multidisciplinary project teams.

• Effective communication, problem-solving, decision-making, and organizational skills, with the ability to collaborate with clients, consultants, and internal teams.

• Commitment to obtaining LEED Green Associate accreditation within six months of hire and pursuing professional accreditation in an area of Living Design.

Preferred Qualifications

• Approximately 8–10+ years of relevant architectural experience, particularly in technical project leadership, documentation, consultant coordination, and construction administration.

• Experience with tools such as Rhino, Grasshopper, Microsoft 365, Adobe Creative Cloud, Enscape, Lumion, V-Ray, environmental analysis software, and physical modeling technologies.

Why Perkins&Will?

At Perkins&Will, we believe great design emerges from collaboration, curiosity, and a shared commitment to making a positive impact. Our Living Design approach connects people, place, and the environment, encouraging thoughtful solutions that respond to the needs of our communities. You'll contribute your expertise to a team that values design excellence, interdisciplinary thinking, and the exchange of ideas.

Salary Range Information

We foster a culture that is diverse and inclusive and strive for pay practices that are fair, and competitive and reflect our commitment to pay equity. Our compensation decisions include but are not limited to a candidate’s qualifications including skill sets, education, experience and training, licensure and certifications credentials if applicable, and business-related factors. This practice extends to all employees, including performance considerations for merit increases, job promotions, and transfer opportunities. We additionally review our pay practices, conduct pay equity audits, and ensure our managers are trained in our pay practices on an annual basis. At the time of posting this job advertisement, commensurate with qualifications, the annual pay salary range for this position in Chicago, IL is between $88,000 and $112,000.

Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

At Perkins&Will we believe that inclusion spurs creativity and that innovation is born from an engaged culture of diverse people + ideas. By moving beyond barriers and stereotypes of gender, race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, medical condition, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status; we are committed to building an organization that reflects the diversity of the communities and clients we serve.

"Design has the power to inspire joy, uplift lives, and strengthen the spirit of community."

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Perkins&Will has established and adopted an Equal Employment Opportunity Employment policy (“EEO”), which is part of the Company’s Human Resources Policy. The purpose of this EEO policy is to ensure that all employment decisions are made on a non-discriminatory basis, and without regard to sex, race, color, age, national origin, religion, disability, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, gender reassignment, citizenship, pregnancy or maternity, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable national, federal, state, or local law. In some cases, local laws and regulations may provide greater protections than those outlined here and employees will be covered by the laws of their local jurisdiction.

Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision

Perkins&Will will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.